The Truth About Mostly Dead Blades

M

munk

Joined
Mar 22, 2002
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Yangdu sent me two returns; a 16.5" WWll and a 15" Pen. The Pen was made by Bura; the WWll by Kumar. It was my first experience with each and I liked them .
The Pen really does cut well; Ive been trimming firewood and it does not hiccup. I think the edge was too hard, but when I reground it there was no evidence of failure. The notch, two inches from the tip, was not repeated.

The WWll, I had less hope for. I thought I'd have to re-heat treat. A folded edge two inches from the tip. NO. I used the belt sander and presto chango the edge held. Held so good I gave it to a minister of the clothe. My local Priest. Hey; he's local.

I don't wish to imply every failure is a false one; but you know what? I no longer believe in 'failed' the same as I did before.

I know Yangdu is busting her butt to help with quality control. She spoke with every single Kami the other day.

Boy, was she ever pissed.

She has confided in me she thinks about giving up, but the people she helps, the good stuff, she just can't quit.

Any other manufacturer who has a lifetime replacement policy, and is used as brutally as HI goods, has my hat off to them. My hat is off because I'm always bare headed approaching the Almighty.

I trust HI more than any. And I cut wood.


munk
 
Ya know, I tend to agree Munk.

If the blade has a sharp chip from a flaw (rather than a round dent, from hitting a nail or rock), I understand some folks sending it back. But me? I use a khuk as others use a hatchet or an ax. As the edge is harder than a hatchet or ax, and the profile's thinner, it's more likely to run into trouble. The wonder is that it happens so infrequently, when you consider the use, the amount of force concentrated on that miniscule bit of metal in the edge.
 
I understand wanting to get a blade that is first quality when you order one from the worlds premier khukuri company. Then again I don't think because a blade blemmed out that its lost its value. It is very enjoyable rescueing these blades, it gives you valuable insight into how the kamis build them. They are amazing. Like Tom above me here, I'm always amazed there aren't more failures. I mean what other blade is even tested the way HI khuks are tested. The answer is none.
 
The people who buy HI blades have come to expect the best. It is not an easy reputation to live up to. Kami Sherpa and Yangdu will do it though, I am confident.

Imagine a poor family in the hills of Nepal. The father hits a rock with his khukuri, and a big chip comes out of the blade. This isn't a defect, it's just life. He'll find a file or a stone, and spend the time it takes to put on a new edge. The tool still has many years of use, and he can not afford to throw it away each time it needs a little work. If there is a kami nearby he may get the edge rehardened when he can, or a new handle put on.

US knife customers are, for the most part, different from the poor hillfolk of Nepal. Those of you who have taken time to repair blades that have seen use have gained some insight into the old ways.

Most of the HI knives I've purchased have been blems.
 
Munk, it sounds like you gave the two "failures" thicker and/or more convexed edge profiles.

I remember Bill saying that sometimes he felt like hanging it up too. But he kept on for the same reasons that Yangdu does today.

Bob
 
I should have taken before and after photos.
There was no real edge on the Pen. It was not sharp at all. The WWll someone had taken a grinder to. It had a very bad rough edge.
I was afraid it may have lost some heat treat by the grinding, but I guess this was not the case.

I was very surprised by the WWll. After reapplying an edge, it passed the wood test with flying colors.

Most of my HI blades were purchased as blems, or dod. These two were field 'failures' and returns.

You remember the too thin edges of several years ago? Not convex at all? I noted sometimes the metal behind the edge would sometimes deform slightly, under severe wood tests, but once traveled, the metal seemed to limit out and I never had a problem with them. I learned not to panic if it waved a little. I don't mean the actual edge, but the metal supporting it.

I know Howard is right.

And Bill; he did get fed up sometimes, didn't he? But he didn't stop.
munk
 
I love mine too much to send them back.
It's a piece of metal with an edge...you draw file it, you sand it, you strop it. Learn to do those things and learn them well because you will need to do them at one time or another if you want to play with these knives.
 
I like what Josh said. Something about being treated too well, and gotten more than his money's worth by HI to send one back.

I'm too much of an HI booster, I know. But not only are kukris 'THE' woods blade for me, the HI kukri was more than just a fine product; it was an event.

munk
 
I still use the AK blem I bought from Bill in 1998 every spring for the yard work. It's been chipped, folded, the tip bent, the handle cracked again & is now taped :rolleyes: , etc. Most of the problems encountered were from my inaccurate chops, "wrong spot" on blade, hitting rocks, etc. It's just a tool for me & I steel, file, or bend the edge back, resharpen, & keep using it. Makes the spring yard work drudgery somewhat interesting :) .
That said, if I bought a "show piece" & it failed through no fault of mine I'd expect a replacement.
 
I hit an iron I-beam hidden in grass with my GRS. Rolled the edge badly, naturally. Used a hammer and anvil to put the rolled edge back in place, belt sander to finish... because tools that get used get damaged.

Tools that get damaged get fixed.

HI isn't Sears & Craftsman tools... that guarantee has to hurt such a small company, percentage-wise. None of mine were ever sent back....:D but replacements keep arriving from time to time.


Mike
 
I do give my blades a work out and they never failed. I can say they are beat up but when you use a tool it gets worn and dinged up.

Perhaps there are those who take advantage of the guarantee. I hope not, karma is always there, patiently waiting for pay backs.:rolleyes:

I know everyone I gave a khukuri to, love them and would never have dreamed how good they could "chop".
 
sams said:
I do give my blades a work out and they never failed. I can say they are beat up but when you use a tool it gets worn and dinged up.
Perhaps there are those who take advantage of the guarantee. I hope not, karma is always there, patiently waiting for pay backs.:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

well, there's a difference between used, used up, and some kind of failure.

bladite
 
Bladite said:
well, there's a difference between used, used up, and some kind of failure.

bladite
Click to expand...

So very true! No question failure should be and is covered.

An used and abused khukuri to the point of used up should not be covered by the gaurantee.

I reread Monks' post and IMHO it should not have been replaced. After all, HI does not make " light sabers". :D

Sam S.
 
Well, remember Bill's mission; "The customer is always right. If I can't do it right I won't do this at all." (quotes mine)

What was surprising was the test after I re-applied an edge to each; no problem. The WWll really sailed through some seasoned tough Ponderosa Pine. The fold had been right on the border- the area close enough to the tip to be soft. It was not by Bura, after all. I was fooled. It "LOOKED" like a Bura, the lines and form were so good; it was actually by another Kami. I can't remember the symbol now.

Anyway, There are real failures. There are very rare catostrophic failures, and very unusual metal weaknesses. I don't think either of these blades qualified for failure. They needed a little understanding, and an edge. I gave the WWll to our Minister. If I'd had any doubt I would not have done so. Darn thing hummed right along munching into wood. It was astounding.

munk
 
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